Day 21 - 10/28/2010 - Happy Birthday Dad, from Nerja to you

Today is not only 3 days before Halloween, but my Dad’s birthday. My family is getting together tomorrow night to celebrate. I, obviously, am not going to be home for either his birthday or the celebration. This is the second time in my entire life that I won’t be home for my dad’s birthday. It’s weird to think about it because he’s not the type to ask for a huge celebration or a load of gifts, just a simple call or a card and dinner. It’s kind of sad not to be home for this, but at least today was a good day.

            There is a town about 20 minutes away from Velez-Malaga called Nerja that is a pretty well known tourist spot around here. The town is super small, but has two things in particular that make it an amazing super small town. The biggest tourist attractions of this town are “Las Cuevas,” The Caves, and “El Balcon de Europa,” The Balcony of Europe. I, unfortunately, have not been able to visit the caves yet, but have heard that they are amazingly beautiful. Even when I studied abroad in Malaga two years ago I remember people talking about Las Cuevas de Nerja. The balcony on the other hand I hadn’t heard of until I myself got to visit Nerja today.

            El Balcon de Europa is basically a big plaza that is on the edge of the land and looks over the water. It is literally one big balcony. There is a central part of town that leads to a plaza at the entrance of the balcony where there are restaurants and bars that look out at the balcony. There is a large center walkway lined on both sides by tall palm trees that lead you to the end where there is a round area for people to look out over the railing at the ocean. It’s so pretty. The more I am here the more and more I realize how beautiful nature is. I mean, I’ve always known and admired nature’s beauty, but it’s crazy what five minutes of being in a place as beautiful as this balcony surrounded by water and coast can do to the way you feel.

         

Overall, everything I’ve heard about Nerja is definitely true. It may be a small town, but it is definitely worth a visit. I don’t really have much else to say about it other than that the view from El Balcon is amazing. I have yet to see Las Cuevas, which will hopefully happen within the next month. I was able to go to Nerja because there was a fieldtrip to a theatre where we got to see a performance by a theatrical group and the teacher that organized the trip, Virginia, thought that I should see the town. I couldn’t thank her enough.